Will Mangalore Airport get international tag?

MANGALORE: Though many projects were taken up to upgrade the Mangalore Airport, the much-awaited international tag would be a political decision, said Airports Authority of India (AAI) Regional Executive Director (Southern) D Devaraj here on Sunday.He was speaking at a two-day national conference on Indian Aviation and Tourism- opportunities, challenges and new directions, organised by Mangalore Airport Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee (MADJCC), Department of Business Administration in Mangalore University and AAI, at the old terminal building in Bajpe. He said that a proposal of Rs 80 crore was sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on expansion of the runway to 10,000 feet.The expansion will meet the main requirement for the operation of international flights, he said and added that the policy makers decision is important in upgrading the airport.On the demand for naming the Airport after visionary of modern Dakshina Kannada, Ullal Srinivas Mallya, he said that it is a political decision. Utilising the old terminal building for domestic cargo operations is possible, while handling international cargo operations can only be possible after meeting some requirements.He said that the state’s assistance has been sought to fill the valley at one side of the airport, which will help in getting more space to expand its activities.Explaining that AAI is giving more importance to airport safety, he said that the new technical block, new control tower and advanced automated air traffic control systems will be installed.Karnataka Bank Chairman Ananthakrishna said that  utilising the airport to promote local business activities and export would be a great contribution.MADJCC coordinator K Thejomaya said the conference has been organised to motivate young researchers to focus on aviation related tourism and recall the contributions of the airport in development of  the region.